Afghanistan: A different kind of war

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Jim Jones is hopeful that diplomacy and the U.S. military alliance with neighboring Pakistan are beginning to produce results in Afghanistan.
AP Photo

“The broader point is right,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.) told POLITICO. “Obama will get more votes in the sense that Afghanistan is different than Iraq because the international community is involved. It isn’t a phony coalition of the willing.”

Among all the relationships, China is perhaps the most intriguing — because of its influence in Pakistan.

Bruce Riedel, a veteran of the CIA and National Security Council over several administrations, argues that “the time is ripe” for the U.S. and China to add the stability of Pakistan to the top of their bilateral agenda.

Holbrooke is cautious on this front. “Pakistan has a special relationship with China. That’s the oldest ally,” he said, “and we’re not going to get involved in that bilateral relationship.”

But Jones appears more aggressive. “I believe China can do a lot more in Pakistan than it’s currently doing,” Jones said. And Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), chairman of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee on Foreign Relations, argues that China is obliged to do more diplomatically — in line with its greater economic influence.

“On one hand, you have the expansion of their economic and diplomatic influence, and on the other, we need to be much stronger with China in assuming a greater responsibility in the diplomatic arena as an emerging power,” Webb told POLITICO in a recent interview. “We need the Chinese to become a more mature partner in resolving issues.”

“I think they need to be more overt. The Chinese need to be more overt in how they are participating in resolving diplomatic issues in the region at large.”

Jones would agree, looking beyond Afghanistan to what could be the next crisis: Iran, where China is a major trading partner.

“There are things that transcend smaller disagreements,” Jones said. “I understand China’s sensitivities in regard to the Dalai Lama and selling arms to Taiwan. But this is not a surprise. ... We have been very clear to them that this is going to happen. Here’s what it is. Here’s what it isn’t.”

“We were respectful; we were transparent. On the big issues, it’s very important that China, because of its role in the world now, act responsibly on these big things. A nuclear arms race in the Persian Gulf is a big thing, and it ought not be held hostage to a visit of a spiritual leader.”

Readers' Comments (227)

The Democrats are now the official Chicken Hawk party. They are hoping for Obama votes based on war.

Team Politico: “That’s not all bad for President Barack Obama”

Team Politico: "With Congress returning to the war debate soon, the White House is betting this diplomacy abroad will translate into political support at home."

Team Politico: “ but here’s probably the best thing that Obama’s done,” Murtha said"

Team Politico: “The broader point is right,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman (D-Calif.) told POLITICO. “Obama will get more votes.”

"Bush bad, Iraq bad."

"Obama good, Afghanistan war good"

War: The business of hurting people. Killing people. Destruction. Death. Pain. Suffering. Horror. Shattered lives. Bad when anyone but a Democrat does it. Good when Democrats do it.

All good - as long as its a Democrat - especially Obama.

Rah! Rah!

War! War!

War! Kill!

Yippie we're all gonna die!

Anyone remember the old and now probably banned and politically incorrect Airborne running cadence amongst certain units? I do. Pounded many a mile of pavement and trail to various ditties. The Roman Legions probably had cadences similar in nature.

It went like this:

Rape the town and kill the people That's the only thing to do Rape the town and kill the people You'll feel better if you do!

Take a hatchet to the mayor Chop him in his f *****g head Then grab his hemorrhoids with a pliers And stretch his guts until he's dead

(Rape the town...)

Throw a frag into the chapel Watch the priests scream and yell You may even laugh your ass off As you blow'em straight to hell

(Rape the town...)

Take some candy to the playground Watch the kiddies gather round Take your forty millimeter And mow the little monsters down

(Rape the town...)

Drop some napalm on the schoolhouse Watch the teachers scream and shout You may even laugh your ass off As they try to put it out

So when do your kids get to start killin' r a g h e a d s? Gonna start that Rangle draft? Maybe they can sneak in a few of those old time running cadences that were done before the military went all PC.

Do to the Leadership of our Commander In Chief and his support of our soldiers we are now winning this war that the previous administration dithered on.

And despite the constant undermining by Democrats, the last CIC defeated one of the worst dictators in world history and denied your buddy Hussien any chance at ever developing any WMD's for export to terrorist groups. You guys did everything you could to defeat America - and failed. Too bad, so sad. For you.

Isn't it interesting that now it is being reported that NINE of Obama appointees have defended Gitmo detainees. NINE OF OBAMA APPOINTEES! With Obama, that makes TEN. AND they wanted Gitmo closed and they want these detainees defended in our civil courts! One of the Gitmo guys was Osama's driver and he only got 5 months. Whose side are these attorneys on?

Do to the Leadership of our Commander In Chief and his support of our soldiers we are now winning this war that the previous administration dithered on.

And despite the constant undermining by Democrats, the last CIC defeated one of the worst dictators in world history and denied your buddy Hussien any chance at ever developing any WMD's for export to terrorist groups. You guys did everything you could to defeat America - and failed. Too bad, so sad. For you.

WHERE ARE ALL THOSE LIBERALS WHO PROTESTED WHEN BUSH WAS PRESIDENT. NOW THAT IT IS OBAMA'S WAR THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ALL THOSE DEAD AFGHANIS OR US MILITARY. WHEN THINGS GO WRONG, IT'S STILL BUSH'S FAULT.

"Do" tell about your Chicken Hawk boy pres who never served a day in uniform now sending American kids to be slaughtered and hoping it wins him votes.

For Obama, it's all political. I feel sorry for our military and the position they're in. Again, like everything (health care, jobs, etc), Obama doesn't have experience to do his job and that's why he isn't making the decisions so if it all goes wrong, he'll start blaming.

If it weren't for Bush spending the last eight years in Iraq and Afghan upgrading our military capabilities, finding the best generals in our military to fight these wars and promoting people like Petreaus over the objections of Hairplugs and Obamz, then backing Petraeus as he formulated and perfected his counterinsurgency strategies, this administration would be running around with its thumb in its mouth.

If the surge of 30,000 troops had not been risked and won by Bush, does anyone really think that Obambi would have had the guts to employ the same strategy in Afghanistan?

Thank President Bush and VP Cheney for winning Iraq and showing these bozos how to fight and win this "good" war in Afghanistan.

So Obama's now a war monger. Hey Barry, define success for us, there are men and women dying, your bombing civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan and we'd like to know why. When will you succeed, the surge is failing, the country is tired of this new Vietnam.

Man that was fun, het Moveon Dailykos ******s, how do you like him NOWWWWWWWWW?

We need 10,000 off road quad cab trucks retrofitted for emergency service (Iron plating - entrance and exit through enlarged sunroofs) with 40,000 volunteer Americans, four per truck, getting $28 an hour double time Saturday and Sundays.

Bring your own assault weapon or you can't make the trip. The trucks should have on star, cb radios on the dash, binoculars, and police radar guns.

Traveling in groups of 40 we can seal all of the borders and eliminate the importation of IUD's and the export of tankers of stolen oil that funds the terrorists.

We can visit every village and pass out copies of our constitution translated and challenge the Iraqis to adopt outr Constitution for a ten years trial.

Congress can award Iraq favored nation status and with ten thousand in cash in every glove box we can make deals with all the farmers for all their surplus dates and nuts.

We can also explain to the Iraqis we want 50,000 of their childfren to come live with an American family in USA for a couple years until the shooting stops and the kids and the parents will both all have cell phones with cameras to talk and see each other evey day.

Maybe; when the Taliban shoots at our soldiers, we should tell our soldiers to just drop their weapons and claim they are tourists...

We can issue them Hawaiian shirts, just to be sure.

Then our fine Congressmen and women can negotiate with the Taliban to ensure that any captured soldiers are read their Miranda rights first.

After which, captured American soldiers will be tried in public courts in Afghanistan, just as terrorists are in America; under this new treaty with terrorists that our fine representatives here in America can negotiate.

Then, captured American soldiers - who were *really tourists* can be fed some nice breakfast and tea while they await their public trial after being informed of their rights, just like terrorists are in America.

Insanity is the WH's order of the day. Based on Obma’s rules of engagement, why doesn’t he just send the U.S. Marschall’s law enforcement people to conduct his agenda to pursue “insurgents” in a police type manner.

Some American and Afghan troops say they're fighting the latest offensive in Afghanistan with a handicap - strict rules that routinely force them to hold their fire.

Although details of the new guidelines are classified to keep insurgents from reading them, U.S. troops say the Taliban are keenly aware of the restrictions.

Lance Cpl. Travis Anderson, 20, of Altoona, Iowa. "They're using our rules of engagement against us," he said, adding that his platoon had repeatedly seen men drop their guns into ditches and walk away to blend in with civilians.

If a man emerges from a Taliban hideout after shooting erupts, U.S. troops say they cannot fire at him if he is not seen carrying a weapon - or if they did not personally watch him drop one.

What this means, some contend, is that a militant can fire at them, then set aside his weapon and walk freely out of a compound, possibly toward a weapons cache in another location. It was unclear how often this has happened. In another example, Marines pinned down by a barrage of insurgent bullets say they can't count on quick air support because it takes time to positively identify shooters.